The Cycle of Distraction - And Something To Do About It!

As much as I like to avoid the “negative” there is something that I have to get off my chest…

And no, it’s not a “Bad Tattoo” or a reference to a Springtime cold! ha ha!

I am convinced that we live in a “cycle of distraction”…

And what I mean is that amid the flurry of MySpace Comments, buying Ring Tones and eMail, it’s hard to stay focused on the tasks of the day, let alone make long-term plans for success as a Single Parent…

While some of this might not directly affect you, it’s more of an observation about the culture that we live in.

I even find myself getting caught up obsessively checking email and thinking about my response to a challenge at work when I’m hanging out with my daughter.

The long and the short of it is, even if we don’t “buy into” the fast-paced lifestyle that this “virtual world” presents, is is around us and CAN affect us.

So, what’s a Single Parent to do?

Well, I wanted to share with you something that I’ve been experimenting with that might help you.

And that’s starting the day right.

I’ve found that in the past when I roll out of bed and those bare feet hit the floor, I’m immediately overwhelmed with my day. It could be checking email from my phone while I’m running downstairs or it could be seeing some mail on the kitchen counter right when I get up… The point is that there are these tiny “distracters” that sink their teeth into me while I’m waking up.

So, what have I done to remedy this?

First off, I thought to myself that I needed a bit of clarity in the morning… I needed to be able to focus and begin the day without feeling like there was pressure or that the demands of the week were going to come crashing over me.

This lead me to think about health. I start off with a glass of water, 16 oz. to be precise. I prepare this the night before and leave it next to my nightstand. This allows me to not start off dehydrated and I have a lesser chance of getting a headache.

I then do something I called “10-10-10″.

I even wrote this on a piece of paper and stuck it under the water on my nightstand as a reminder.

I do 10 sit-ups, 10 push ups and 10 “crunches” when I get up. I usually do these AFTER I drink my water, but more importantly, I do these both before even LEAVING MY ROOM…

I have to admit that usually having to go to the bathroom is a motivator to get these done.
And the funny thing is that these are small things… These are tiny little things that take less than 7 minutes to do… but are of HIGH value because they make the day start off right.
I am finding that I’m more focused and able to not be immediately distracted by the things around me. I try to wake up before my daughter and her friend get up in order to focus on MYSELF.

I also have a few other things I’m working on in order to start the day much more aware that I’m “real world” testing, but for now, try these two things…

They are simple, quick and really make a tremendous difference for your day!

So, as you’re breaking your own “cycle of distraction”, remember that we’re in this together, learning lessons along the way…

I’ll talk to you soon,

C